Personal Statement... Statement of Purpose... Candidate's
Admission Statement... These terms bring a shiver to the spine of
many a potential grad student.
You should think of the personal statement, however, as an
opportunity to show admissions officers what you're made of. They
want to know why you want to attend their grad program and
this is your chance to tell them as clearly and compellingly as
you can.
Two Basic Purposes
Personal statements can serve two basic purposes. First, they
show whether or not you can write a clear, coherent essay that's
logically and grammatically correct. These days, students'
writing ability is often presumed deficient unless proven
otherwise.
Second, they provide you with the opportunity to present the
admissions committee with more of a "three-dimensional" portrait
of yourself as a deserving candidate than GPA and GRE numbers
possibly can. What you choose to write sends clear signals about
what's important to you and what your values are. You can explain
why you really want to pursue grad work and the career path it
will enable you to follow. Your essay also enables you to explain
things like a bad grade or term in an otherwise creditable
record.
A Three-Dimensional Picture of
You
Essays are the best way for admissions officers to determine who
you are. So, don't hesitate to go beyond your current experience
for essay topics. Feel free to discuss other events that help
define who you are. If you have overcome significant obstacles,
say so. If you were honored with an award, describe the award and
what you did to achieve recognition.
A checklist:
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Answer questions. |
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Follow directions. |
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Match yourself with the school. |
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Be your unique self. |
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Tell stories and make your essays
interesting. |
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Start with a bang. |
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Ask other people to read your essay and give
you their impression.
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It behooves you to do a good job here. So start early. Go
over your goals and aspirations, write several drafts, talk to
students and professors. Then give some thought to your goals.
How will you accomplish them? What can you contribute to the
psychology school community? What can you contribute to this
particular school or program? If you can answer these questions
in a clear, concise manner, the statement will be a relative
breeze.
